Chrysanthemum plant named `Sunny Reagan`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant named Sunny Reagan, bearing medium sized yellow blooms wih a yellow-green center and performance of 24-28 days.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant which is a natural occurring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named Reagan. Parent Chrysanthemum Reagan is described in U.S. Pat. No. P.P. 8,642. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in 1991 in a greenhouse in Holland. Other naturally occurring mutations of `Reagan` for which U.S. plant patent protection is being sought include the cultivar `Dark Splendid Reagan` (copending plant patent application Ser. No. 08/646,224) and Dark Red Reagan (copending plant patent application Ser. No. 08/642,905).

The invention has been asexually reproduced by cuttings at the same location. The new cultivar has been found to retain all of its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum of a medium sized bloom and yellow color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows the full bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows foliage and petiole of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. When grown in the vicinity of Ter Aar, Holland, it has a response time of approximately 71/2 weeks. This new variety produces medium sized yellow blooms with a yellow-green center having a 4 week performance (i.e., vase life of 24-28 days). This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations and may be planted under greenhouse conditions in Holland between weeks 50 and 35. The following is a description of the plant and charscteristics (color designations are from R.H.S. Color Chart) that distinguish it from related known varieties and its antecedents: The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances.

    ______________________________________                                         Detailed Botanical Description and Comparative Data                                                       Parent Cultivar                                     CULTIVAR     Sunny Reagan  Reagan                                              ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size         Medium cross  Medium cross                                                     section ±1.0 cm                                                                           section ±1.0 cm                                               height ±0.7 cm                                                                            height ±0.7 cm                                   Form         Round and flat                                                                               Round and flat                                      Outside Color                                                                               Between Yellow                                                                               Greyed Purple                                                    7A/Yellow 9A  186D but paler                                      Bloom                                                                          Size         Medium        Medium                                              Fully Expanded                                                                              61/2-7 cm     61/2 cm                                             Borne        Upper portion,                                                                               Upper portion,                                                   single flower per                                                                            single flower per                                                peduncle, lower                                                                              peduncle, lower                                                  portion plural                                                                               portion plural                                                   flowers per   flowers per                                                      peduncle      peduncle                                            Peduncle Lengths                                                                            Near the top ±14                                                                          Near the top ±14                                              cm, near the middle                                                                          cm, near the middle                                              ±24 cm, near the                                                                          ±24 cm, near the                                              bottom ±28 cm                                                                             bottom ±28 cm                                    Peduncle Lateral                                                                            medium        medium                                              Shoot, Attachment                                                              Peduncle Lateral                                                                            medium        medium                                              Shoot, Angle                                                                   Form         Single (Daisy)                                                                               Single (Daisy)                                      Performance  Very good 24-28                                                                              Very good 24-28                                                  days (18-20° C.)                                                                      days (18-20° C.)                             Color                                                                          Center of Flower                                                                            Immature: Yellow-                                                                            Immature: Yellow-                                                Green 144A    Green 151C                                                       Mature: Yellow-                                                                              Mature: Yellow-                                                  Green 154A    Green 154A                                          Base of Petals                                                                              Yellow 5A     Purple 75B                                                       deepening slightly                                                             to Yellow 6A in the                                                            basal half                                                        Outer Petals Yellow 5A     Purple 75B                                                       deepening slightly                                                             to Yellow 6A in the                                                            basal half                                                        Inside of Petals                                                                            Yellow 5A     Purple 75B                                                       deepening slightly                                                             to Yellow 6A in the                                                            basal half                                                        Reverse of Petals                                                                           Yellow 6A     Red-Purple 69D                                                                 but paler                                           Tonality from                                                                               A yellow daisy with                                                                          A pale pink daisy                                   Distance     a fresh looking                                                                              with a fresh looking                                             center having a                                                                              center having a                                                  little or no pollen                                                                          little or no pollen                                 Discoloration                                                                               Some to Yellow 5B                                                                            Some to Red-Purple                                                             69D                                                 Pollen       Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                            Yellow-Orange 14A                                   Petals                                                                         Texture      Upperside smooth,                                                                            Upperside smooth,                                                underside smooth                                                                             underside smooth                                    Number       24-30 (two rows)                                                                             24-30 (two rows)                                    Cross-section                                                                               convex, two keels                                                                            flat, two keels                                     Arrangement  Imbricated    Imbricated                                          Persistance  Good. Petals keep                                                                            Good. Petals keep                                                straight or reflex                                                                           straight or reflex                                               somewhat at the                                                                              somewhat at the                                                  edge at the end                                                                              edge at the end                                                  of blooming.  of blooming.                                        Fragrance    Typical       Typical                                                          Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum                                       Disc Diameter                                                                               Medium to large                                                                              Medium (1.5 cm)                                                  (1.5-2.0 cm)                                                      Reproductive Organs                                                            Stamen       Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                                                          Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                              in length     in length                                           Pollen       Appears at late                                                                              Appears at late                                                  stage of blooming                                                                            stage of blooming                                   Styles       Green, thick  Green thick                                         Style Length ±5 mm      ±5 mm                                            Stigmas      Yellow        Yellow                                              Stigma Width ±1 mm      ±1 mm                                            Ovaries      Enclosed in calyx                                                                            Enclosed in calyx                                   Plant                                                                          Form         Spray mum meant                                                                              Spray mum meant                                                  for erect culture.                                                                           for erect culture.                                               Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.                                         Growth       Strong        Strong                                              Height       100-125 cm    100-125 cm                                          Stem Color   Yellow-Green 144A                                                                            Yellow-Green 144A                                   Stem Strength                                                                               Strong        Medium                                              Stem Brittleness                                                                            Absent        Present                                             Stem Anthocyanin                                                                            Present, mainly at                                                                           Absent                                                           the base                                                          Internodes   3 cm          3 cm                                                Flowering Response                                                                          71/2 weeks    71/2 weeks                                          Foliage                                                                        Color        Upperside Green                                                                              Upperside Green                                                  137A. Underside                                                                              137A. Underside                                                  Green 137C.   Green 137C.                                         Size         Length ±12 cm.                                                                            Length ±12 cm.                                   Width ±9 cm.                                                                             Width ±9 cm.                                                   Quantity     22-28         22-28                                               Shape        Lobed, see    Lobed, see                                                       photograph    photograph                                          Texture      Upperside rough,                                                                             Upperside rough,                                                 underside smooth,                                                                            underside smooth,                                                slightly hirsute                                                                             slightly hirsute                                    Ribs and Veins                                                                              Ribs well     Ribs well                                                        developed. Veins                                                                             developed. Veins                                                 not so developed.                                                                            not so developed.                                   Edge         Crenated      Crenated                                            Shape of Base of Sinus                                                                      Round         Round                                               Between Lateral                                                                Lobes                                                                          Margin of Sinus Be-                                                                         Converging    Converging                                          tween Lateral Lobes                                                            Shape of Base                                                                               Truncate      Rounded                                             Apex         Mucronate     Cupsidate                                           Response time                                                                  Difference in days of                                                                       +11/2         0                                                   average response                                                               Response to ALAR                                                               Dose utilized to obtain                                                                     450           300                                                 plant height of about                                                          90 cm (g/100 l H.sub.2 O)                                                      Year of Discovery                                                                           1991          1986                                                ______________________________________                                                      Dark Splendid Dark Red                                            ______________________________________                                         CULTIVAR     Reagan        Reagan                                              ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size         Medium cross  Medium cross                                                     section ±1.0 cm                                                                           section ±1.0 cm                                               height ±0.7 cm                                                                            height ±0.7 cm                                   Form         Round and flat                                                                               Round and flat                                      Outside Color                                                                               Near Red-Purple                                                                              Near Greyed                                                      70A           Purple 186A                                         Bloom                                                                          Size         Medium        Medium                                              Fully Expanded                                                                              61/2-7 cm     61/2-7 cm                                           Borne        Upper portion,                                                                               Upper portion,                                                   single flower per                                                                            single flower per                                                peduncle, lower                                                                              peduncle, lower                                                  portion plural                                                                               portion plural                                                   flowers per   flowers per                                                      peduncle      peduncle                                            Peduncle Lengths                                                                            Near the top ±14                                                                          Near the top ±14                                              cm, near the middle                                                                          cm, near the middle                                              ±24 cm, near the                                                                          ±24 cm, near the                                              bottom ±28 cm                                                                             bottom ±28 cm                                    Peduncle Lateral                                                                            medium        Weak to medium                                      Shott, Attachment                                                              Peduncle Lateral                                                                            small         small                                               Shoot, Angle                                                                   Form         Single (Daisy)                                                                               Single (Daisy)                                      Performance  Very good 24-28                                                                              Very good 24-28                                                  days (18-20° C.)                                                                      days (18-20° C.)                             Color                                                                          Center of Flower                                                                            Immature: Yellow-                                                                            Immature: Yellow-                                                Green 144A    Green 144A                                                       Mature: Yellow-                                                                              Mature: Yellow-                                                  Green 154A    Green 154A                                          Base of Petals                                                                              Near Red-Purple                                                                              Unevenly colored;                                                71C but very  near Greyed-Red                                                  slightly more blue                                                                           182A lightly                                                                   streaked with Grey-                                                            ed-Orange 167B                                      Outer Petals Near Red-Purple                                                                              Unevenly colored;                                                71C but very  near Greyed-Red                                                  slightly more blue                                                                           182A lightly                                                                   streaked with Grey-                                                            ed-Orange 167B                                      Inside of Petals                                                                            Near Red-Purple                                                                              Unevenly colored;                                                71C but very  near Greyed-Red                                                  slightly more blue                                                                           182A lightly                                                                   streaked with Grey-                                                            ed-Orange 167B                                      Reverse of Petals                                                                           Nearest Purple-                                                                              Yellow-White 158A                                                Violet 80D but                                                                               tinged with Greyed-                                              more grey and with                                                                           Purple 186D be-                                                  a slightly deeper                                                                            tween the ribs and                                               tonation      towards the margin                                  Tonality from                                                                               A purple daisy with                                                                          A red daisy with                                    Distance     a fresh looking                                                                              a fresh looking                                                  center having a                                                                              center having a                                                  little or no  little or no                                                     pollen        pollen                                              Discoloration                                                                               Some to Red-Purple                                                                           Some to Greyed-                                                  72C           Red 181C                                            Pollen       Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                            Yellow-Orange 14A                                   Petals                                                                         Texture      Upperside smooth,                                                                            Upperside smooth,                                                underside smooth                                                                             underside smooth                                    Number       24-30 (two rows)                                                                             24-30 (two rows)                                    Cross-section                                                                               convex, no keels                                                                             convex, two keels                                   Arrangement  Imbricated    Imbricated                                          Persistence  Good. Petals keep                                                                            Good. Petals keep                                                straight or reflex                                                                           straight or reflex                                               somewhat at the                                                                              somewhat at the                                                  edge at end of                                                                               edge at end of                                                   blooming.     blooming.                                           Fragrance    Typical       Typical                                                          Chrysanthemum Chrysanthmum                                        Disc Diameter                                                                               Medium to large                                                                              Medium to large                                                  (1.5-2.0 cm)  (1.5-2.0 cm)                                        Reproductive Organs                                                            Stamen       Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                                                          Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                              in length     in length                                           Pollen       Appears at late                                                                              Appears at late                                                  stage of blooming                                                                            stage of blooming                                   Styles       Green, thick  Green, thick                                        Style Length ±5 mm      ±5 mm                                            Stigmas      Yellow        Yellow                                              Stigma Width ±1 mm      ±1 mm                                            Ovaries      Enclosed in calyx                                                                            Enclosed in calyx                                   Plant                                                                          Form         Spray mum meant                                                                              Spray mum meant                                                  for erect culture.                                                                           for erect culture.                                               Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.                                         Growth       Medium        Medium                                              Height       100-125 cm    100-125 cm                                          Stem Color   Yellow-Green 144A                                                                            Yellow-Green 144A                                   Stem Strength                                                                               Strong        Strong                                              Stem Brittleness                                                                            Absent        Absent                                              Stem Anthocyanin                                                                            Present, at the base                                                                         Present, at the base                                Coloration   and along the ribs                                                                           and along the ribs                                  Internodes   3 cm          3 cm                                                Flowering Response                                                                          71/2 weeks    71/2 weeks                                          Foliage                                                                        Color        Upperside Green                                                                              Upperside Green                                                  137A. Underside                                                                              137B. Underside                                                  Green 137C.   Green 137C.                                         Size         Length ±11 cm.                                                                            Length ±11 cm.                                   Width ±9 cm.                                                                             Width ±9 cm.                                                   Quantity     22-28         22-28                                               Shape        Lobed, see    Lobed, see                                                       photograph    photograph                                          Texture      Upperside rough,                                                                             Upperside rough,                                                 underside smooth,                                                                            underside smooth,                                                slightly hirsute                                                                             slightly hirsute                                    Ribs and Veins                                                                              Ribs well     Ribs well                                                        developed. Veins                                                                             developed. Veins                                                 not so developed.                                                                            not so developed.                                   Edge         Crenated      Crenated                                            Shape of Base of Sinus                                                                      Round         Round                                               Between Lateral                                                                Lobes                                                                          Margin of Sinus Be-                                                                         Converging    Converging                                          tween Lateral Lobes                                                            Shape of Base                                                                               Cordate       Cordate                                             Apex         Mucronate     Mucronate                                           Response time                                                                  Difference in days of                                                                       +1            +11/2                                               average response                                                               Response to ALAR                                                               Dose utilized to obtain                                                                     300           300                                                 plant height of about                                                          90 cm (g/100 l H.sub.2 O)                                                      Year of discovery                                                                           1991          1992                                                ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 